In Case You Missed It

BAHAMAS

DNA from the 1,000-year-old tooth of an indigenous Taino woman, excavated on the island of Eleuthera, suggests at least one modern Caribbean population is related to her. The finding contradicts a theory that the Taino went extinct after contact with Europeans.

U.S.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

A viral Twitter post led to the identification of an African-American woman among a large group of men in an archival photograph from a 1971 whale biology conference in Virginia. The only person unidentified, she turned out to be Sheila Minor—a biological research technician with a 35-year scientific career.

ANTARCTICA

Using satellites, drones and ground surveys, scientists spotted a previously unknown population of 1.5 million Adélie penguins thriving on the Danger Islands near the Antarctic Peninsula. This species has been declining in many other parts of the continent.

KENYA

The world’s last male northern white rhino, called “Sudan,” died in March at age 45 (the equivalent of about 90 for humans). Only two females of the subspecies, Sudan's daughter and granddaughter, remain.

AUSTRALIA

A fisher discovered around 150 stranded whales on a Hamelin Bay beach, prompting a major rescue effort that saved only five. Biologists do not know what causes stranding behavior but think it may happen when the animals are sick, injured or lost.

Subscribe to Support Independent Journalism

Great science journalism requires human expertise, time, effort and creativity. And it costs money. That’s why I and the journalists here at Scientific American hope you’ll join our community.

When you subscribe, you are supporting staff and freelance journalists who are passionate about telling science stories that are true, important and compelling. Our editors and reporters are often experts in their fields, which means they understand the nuances of big discoveries and can untangle the breakthroughs from the hype. With a subscription, you are also supporting rigorous fact-checking to ensure the words we publish are precise and accurate. And you’re supporting original illustrations, graphics and photos that bring you closer to an advanced laboratory, an ice sheet in Antarctica or a space mission in orbit. You’re helping us craft other types of high-quality journalism as well: Our newsletters are carefully written, edited and curated by staffers you have or will come to know and love. Our Science Quickly podcast is based on original reporting, collaboration with editors and scientists and exacting production.

Subscriptions keep this engine running so we can continue to deliver thoughtful, rigorous and independent science journalism to you. In an era of viral misinformation, this work is crucial. If you value what we do, I hope you’ll consider joining us as a subscriber

Thank you,

Jeanna Bryner, Editor in Chief, Scientific American